British director
Christopher Nolan is living proof that UK-based talent can succeed in the cut-throat world of Hollywood.

The Batman Begins, Dark Knight and Inception director was the fourth-highest earner in Hollywood last year, banking an estimated £44.3 million, new Vanity Fair figures show.

Christopher Nolan directed the last two Batman flicks.

While this was a long way short of Avatar director James Cameron ‘s £159.4 million, Nolan’s earnings show just how big a player he has become in the international film industry.

Other stars in the top five of the 2010 earnings category included Johnny Depp, who took in £62 million and Steven Spielberg, whose £49.6 million saw him take third place, despite most of this coming from Universal Studios theme park royalties.

Nolan’s previous projects include Memento, Insomnia and The Prestige.

He is currently thought to be working on the next instalment of the Batman franchise, which will be known as The Dark Knight Rises and will see the return of Christian Bale as Batman and Bruce Wayne, as well as Michael Caine, who will once again play faithful butler Alfred.